PRINCETON NJ Press Release

JFCS of Greater Mercer County Wiil Distribute 50,000th Bag of Food on Nov 25

PRINCETON, NJ - With more than 40,000 people in Mercer County facing hunger, and growing numbers of struggling people seeking food and assistance, JFCS of Greater Mercer County today announced Thanksgiving week will mark a key moment in its expanded initiatives to help meet the need.

On Monday, November 25th, JFCS will distribute the 50,000th bag of food through its mobile pantry, launched in January 2020, with local officials and the media invited to the mark the milestone achievement in hunger relief in the community.

JFCS programs, which include onsite and mobile food pantries as well as senior nutrition services, have helped more than 8,400 people in the past year, and in the first half of this year alone, total food bag distributions were up 46% compared to the same time in 2023.   

Michelle Schwalbe, Executive Director of JFCS of Greater Mercer County, a leading nonprofit organization offering comprehensive social services and programs, said, "Despite the affluence around us, ten percent of our neighbors in this county often don't know where their next meal is coming from. Addressing the dramatic increase in hunger by offering nutritious food is a cornerstone of the JFCS mission, and we know it is needed now more than ever."

At Thanksgiving time, JFCS will be providing hundreds of extra food bags in addition to its normal monthly distributions and, as a special gift, two private donors recently provided $5,000 to be distributed with bag deliveries, allowing JFCS to provide $100 in cash to 50 families in need.

Two recent signature events have bolstered ongoing anti-hunger efforts. More than 350 cyclists and walkers took part in the agency's annual Wheels for Meals cycling and walking fundraiser, with donations exceeding the $100,000 goal. And the JFCS Women's Alliance hosted Dorothea Bongiovi, founder and program director of the JBJ Soul Kitchen, at their annual member event. The Alliance has raised over $500,000 dollars in the past six years in the fight against hunger.

JFCS receives essential support for its continuing work in the fight against hunger from Mercer Street Friends, the State of New Jersey, and many individual and corporate donors. There are always ways for the community to help, at the holidays and all year, and JFCS invites the public to learn more and get involved.

https://www.jfcsonline.org/